Monday, February 22, 2010

'Hemingway's account of his Paris apprenticeship from 1922 to 1926 are full of dedication and poverty. The dedication was authentic, but the poverty was illusory. At the time of their marriage Hadley had an income of $3,000 a year from her trust fund. Americans with dollars could live comfortably in Paris during the Twenties, for the rate of exchange was favorable. Although Hadley's income was reduced by the mismanagement of her trustee, the Hemingways were never paupers and did not have to rely on his sporadic earnings for eating or drinking money. Their apartment lacked plumping, but there was always money for the things he wanted to do. "Hunger was good discipline," he claimed in A Moveable Feast; nonetheless, they had a cook.'

from Fitzgerald and Hemingway by Matthew J. Bruccoli

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